Has Rogers upset Apple?
It’s 4 days before the much anticipated launch of the iPhone in Canada. But could there be trouble brewing between Apple and their chosen carrier, Rogers?
It’s 4 days before the much anticipated launch of the iPhone in Canada. But could there be trouble brewing between Apple and their chosen carrier, Rogers?
We’re not really in the habit of repeating rumours over here at Sync, but some rumours are just too hot to ignore.
Two days ago, a blogger named Daniel Smith, who writes a blog called Smithereens, posted an item about a possible falling-out between Apple and Rogers. Based on accounts of events that Smith has gleaned from someone he claims is an insider at Rogers, he has constructed the possibility that Rogers will not be receiving the number of iPhone units they expected for the initial launch on July 11th. Supposedly, the majority of iPhones once destined for Canada are now enroute to Europe.
Further citing the layoffs of temporary employees at certain Rogers retails locations as evidence of an unexpected slap on the hands, Smith conjectures that Apple is reacting to both the iPhone data plans that Rogers announced as well as the ensuing backlash by iPhone fans via a heavily supported online petition.
If the rumour is true it would certainly be bad news for Rogers, as it faces intense competition in the smartphone arena from both Bell’s imminent launch of the Samsung Instinct and Telus’s offering of the HTC Touch Diamond. While neither of these phones have the intense aura that surrounds Apple’s iPhone, they do come with unlimited data options, which will likely play a role in consumers’ decision-making.
Disclosure: Sympatico / MSN is a partnership between Microsoft and Bell Canada.
Update July 8, 3:50pm: It looks like there may be a good deal of truth to this rumour. Last night, Apple announced that they will not be selling the iPhone in their retail stores in Canada. The CBC reports that Apple retail staff in Canada are very disappointed with the Rogers data plans and are keeping logs of all customer complaints they receive.
Update July 9, 11:00am: Apparently Rogers is responding to the petition. Engadget reports that they have added a $30/month/6GB option to their voice plans, giving users more bandwidth flexibility, but stopping short of an unlimited plan.
Greed! Greed! Greed! iPhone, Rogers service ratesWho needs it ?
THIS IS SIMPLY A MARKETING PLOY TO MAKE THE PUBLIC 'THINK' THERE IS A LOW SUPPLY OF PRODUCT, THEREFORE CREATING A FRENZY OF WOULD BE CUSTOMERS TO BUY DURING THE DAY OF LAUNCH.
THIS MKTING STRAT. HAS BEEN DONE BY: JAY-Z (SO CALLED GOING INTO RETIREMENT INORDER TO INCREASE SALES OF CONCERT TICKETS AND CD'S, AND NOW APPLE WITH THEIR IPHONES AND MANY OTHER STUNTS THAT I CANNOT RECALL BY FAMOUS PPL AND COMPANYS)
SHAME ON YOU ROGERS!
Looks good on the bastards,Rogers is a greedy company and they're trying too gouge the public…WE'RE ON TOO YOU!! My contract is up in Nov,i'm going back to Telus!!
I have been with roers for years after major struggles with telus and having to pay out a contract cause i was posted else where other then a telus network. Yes i do a three year contract but I can take my rogers phone to any province in canada and change my number for free. With telus you cant do that
Rogers is the most predatory company I have ever encountered. I can't wait until my contract is up. Almost everyone I know feels the same way about Rogers wireless. This article gave me a warm fuzzy feeling. Rogers better change the way they do business immediately.
First off: I am a huge Apple fane…that said, what a lot of people are not mentioning is that the Roger's ploy to get the most money out if you is because Apple does not intend to stay with Roger's as a carrier. The bigger picture for Apple includes opening up their own carrier company. There is a big sale of air space happening shortly in Canada and the U.S. and Apple wants to "cut out the middle man". That is much more their style. Companies like Google are also bidding on the airspace so before you know it, Roger's, Bell, & Telus will be competing with the likes of Google, and Apple, and every other juggernaut whos' interested in cellular. I am from Toronto but have lived all over Canada and have been living in Asia for a while now and the cellular business here is so much better. ALL incoming calls are free even if you are out of minutes, the rates are incredibly low, and you never need to call their customer service because there are never any outages or issues with your bill. Anyway, we can gripe all we want, but no petition will change the fact that CEO's have agendas we will NEVER be privy to.
Great post, Simon!
Marc
It's not suprising that Rogers has messed up once again.
Their digital cable is of such poor quality because the network is oversaturated.
Their cell phone service, with the release of the iPhone and other 3G phones is going to cripple their cellular network (as heard from someone who works at RIM and was in a confrence with a guy who has been working on cell technology for over 30 years)
All I care about is Rogers changing their rates for Blackberries, which they are aparently supposed to do when the iPhone is launched
Telus is utter crap… better stick with Rogers or Bell you guys !
The cell phone market is being opened up in the summer so thats why cell phone prices are on their way down now. If your unhappy with the market wait it out for a bit and see what develops in the new months.
The Canadians are paying 10 x more …blame the Canadian govt for allowing Canadian Telcos to screw Canadians
well one things for sure, i'll be bidding online to get the iphone instead of giving rogers 3 more years of my life with a data plan that's over $100
I personally would love to get an iPhone, but as mentioned, the data plans are WAY too much for me…especially since I'm a student. But in reading the news on ctv.ca I found and article that says Bell and Telus are going to start charging for incoming text messages! That's insane! You can't control you're incoming texts. Thank goodness I don't do business with these companies, nor Rogers. I'll be sticking to MTS here in Manitoba. Their student deal is looking quite appealing right about now.
Here's the article link if you're curious.
http://winnipeg.ctv.ca/servlet/an/local/CTVNews/20080708/OTT_TEXT_080708/20080708/?hub=WinnipegHome
what the big deal with Rogers have the iphone ,I use the I iphone in canada over a year now ,and in asia region most everybody have it,it not speacial anymore
Well done Apple!!! Rogers is everything you are not. I am sure contracts are signed but do not encourage the type of consumer gouging that Rogers and other Canadian cell companies deal in every day!
Where the heck is the CRTC?? Asleep at the wheel again…ie "System Access Fees" how many millions consumers paid for no reason!
This is what happens when u get greedy……Just think of all the money u could have made MR. Rogers. If only u had made this fun gadget affordable for everyone.
I will never buy or own an IPhone and I will boycott as many Apple products as possible including my plan to upgrade mt Ipod for as long as Apple is partnered in Canada with Rogers. I am sick of Canadians being ripped off by cell phone mobility Corporations. We are charged way more than most other countries and 2-3 times as much as the US users even though are dollor is pretty much on par with the US greenback. Infact we are overchared for everything compared to US consumers.
Rogers is arrogant company who thinks they have the monopoply in the cellular/electronic market in Canada. It is great to see consumers fighting back for cheaper rates/better deals.
Hopefully, Canada will have more competitors to chose from in the future.
I once had 3 Rogers phones. Then 5 Clearnet, now 10 Telus.
With the news Rogers is gouging again, I guess I will never have an Apple phone!
Fido (Rogers) is a royal rip off. Not only are they charging outrageous prices on their plans, trying to lock in people to a 3 year plan (so that they cannot switch when the impending competition does come), but they are also forcing people to switch from their cheaper plans! I was told that even without a data plan that I would have to abandon my flat fee grandfathered plan in order to use the I-phone. I say boycott Rogers and Fido and get as many of your friends, family, etc to sign the petition against this gouging. Buying into these overpriced plans sets a dangerous precedent!